Man charged with breaking into cars
An officer on patrol around 1 a.m. Sunday saw a man checking vehicles in a parking lot of the 100 block of West Hancock Avenue, and moments later arrested the man for breaking into a vehicle.

Electronics, TVs are burglar's booty
Police said someone likely came in a kitchen window of a Vine Street residence sometime between midnight Sunday and 5:45 p.m. Monday to take a stereo, TVs, a DVD player, computer equipment, DVDs and a pair of prescription eyeglasses. The victim said the items were worth about $2,790.

Thefts may be related, say police
Athens-Clarke police believe the same thief who stole a trailer from a Danielsville Road business may have used it to haul off an ATV stolen from another victim.

Tires stolen off tanker truck
A Watkinsville man reported that six of his tractor-trailer's wheels were stolen off of his tanker truck after he left it overnight Saturday at 1001 Branch Road in Farmington, according to an Oconee County sheriff's report.

Kids removed, parents arrested
WINDER - Three children were placed in state custody last week after the children's parents were arrested by Barrow County authorities.

Driver cited for blocking crossing
WINDER - A Watkinsville man avoided serious injury last week after the car he was driving was struck by a CSX freight train, but he was ticketed.

Baseball caps, PDA taken in burglary
Someone entered a Lake Place home sometime between 6:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday, taking video games, a cell phone/personal digital assistant device, personalized Atlanta Braves caps and other items worth a total of $1,205, according to Athens-Clarke police.

Linebacker likes case of red eye
Being brought down to the turf by Georgia linebacker Danny Verdun Wheeler might not be what opponents need to fear most. It could be the reaction if Verdun Wheeler gives them his own version of the evil eye.

Henderson eyes return
Mikey Henderson is optimistic he'll be able to return to the playing field for the first time in three weeks on Saturday against Colorado after missing the last two games with a strained hamstring.

Former Buckeye pleads guilty
COLUMBUS, Ohio - When the day comes that Maurice Clarett can be released from prison 31/2 years from now, the former Ohio State football star's life story will hardly have been told in full.

Pollack out for the year
Former Georgia three-time All-America defensive end David Pollack is out for the year, but the Cincinnati Bengals expect him to be fully recovered for next season.

Hangin' with: Kenneth Harris
Flanker Kenneth Harris, a junior from Cherryville, N.C., has emerged as one of Georgia's top receivers with five receptions for 82 yards, a 16.4-yard average. He's the top receiver in yards and is tied at atop the Bulldogs' leaderboard with tailback Thomas Brown (five catches for 46 yards) and fellow flanker A.J. Bryant (five catches for 32 yards).

Gators' Harvin sits out
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Fifth-ranked Florida could be without its most dynamic player Saturday against Kentucky.

Bad memories drive defense
Hours before Georgia hit the field on the first day of preseason practices, linebacker Danny Verdun Wheeler put front and center the large motivating factor for players on the Bulldogs defense during the offseason.

Jackets out to make a move
ATLANTA - ACC experts talk fervently about the talent in a league they consider perennially underrated.

Alan L. Gordon: Don't bulldoze housing on the Navy school site
The Sept. 13 letter to the editor, "Navy school housing can serve low-income residents," which advocates simply renovating existing housing on the U.S. Navy Supply Corps School campus to provide additional housing for low-income residents, is right on the money.

Jim Ponsoldt: Republicans should be moving away from Bush
The Sept. 16 Associated Press story headlined "Bush calls GOP revolt over detainees 'flawed,'" should be the last straw for rank-and-file traditional Republican voters, including the so-called "core" Republicans. Party loyalty should have its limits.

Irwin Stolz Jr.L: Bauerle's UGA program has marks of excellence
As a former University of Georgia swimmer and a member of the 1951 Southeastern Conference championship team, I want to express my appreciation for the Athens Banner-Herald's Sept. 12 editorial noting UGA head coach Jack Bauerle's selection as coach of the 2008 U.S. Olympic women's team. All that was written was true and accurate, but there's much more to illustrate the quality of the man and the program he created.

Judith DeJoy: Library celebration was 'commonwealth' event
Last Thursday evening's celebration at the Classic Center, a tribute to Frances and Upshaw Bentley organized by the Athens-Clarke County Library Endowment Board, was a beautiful testimonial to the success of the Bentleys' leadership in the first phase of the library's endowment fund campaign. The evening was filled with stories from the heart; the hard work of the many people who planned this special event was clearly evident.

John Carl Reynolds: GOP will handle terror war far better than Democrats
In conjunction with the 2006 and 2008 elections, there have been many suggestions Democrats will improve and strengthen national defense and security, and will do better than Republicans in conducting the war on terror. The record shows, though, that Democratic presidential candidates from McGovern to Clinton have been weak on national defense and security. As former Sen. Zell Miller, D-Ga., suggested in 2004, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass. and like-minded Democrats would have our military use spitballs.

Bruce Johnson: Bush's words on Pakistan were clearly nonsensical
As usual, President Bush makes no sense whatsoever. Asked recently why the United States simply doesn't send thousands of troops into Pakistan to corner and eliminate Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida once and for all, Bush stated he couldn't because "Pakistan is a sovereign nation. In order for us to send thousands of troops into a sovereign nation, we've got to be invited by the government of Pakistan."

Fashion Week controversy over skinny models
LONDON - Ultrathin models walked the runways at London's Fashion Week on Monday, opening the weeklong event with a clear rejection of arguments that waiflike young women should not be permitted to showcase designs.

Fit and Fab over 30
Teresa Tapp, author of "Fit and Fabulous in 15 minutes", will deliver her brand of workouts at Borders book store on Alps Road at 7 p.m. Thursday. Geared to men and women older than 30, the book promotes Tapp's trademark approach to fitness called T-Tapp. Similar in ways to Pilates or yoga, what's most eye-catching about Tapp's philosophy is what it does not push - dieting or lifting weights. The actions are built on series of specific muscle movements.

American tuna melt inspired by Italy
Tuna melts should contain heaps of moist tuna salad, made all goopy with mayo or dressing and chopped pickles, maybe even some tomatoes and celery. It seems the better the tuna salad, the harder it is to make a good melt.

License videos and more through YouTube Internet site
Warner Music Group Corp. has agreed to distribute and license its copyrighted songs and other material through online video trendsetter YouTube Inc., marking another significant step in the entertainment industry's migration to the Internet.

Alford Pomeroy: For the love of tea
Tea, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Jasmine tea, by the gallon over ice. Spiced tea, steaming in handthrown mugs. Earl Grey, my morning favorite, sipped from tiny Japanese cups while sitting on the porch.

Pack: Great golf starts with the feet
Balance is not just important, it is essential to playing good golf. And balance begins and ends in our feet. As the great Sam Sneed said, "All good golf begins at the hips, but all great golf begins at the feet."

Today in history
Today is Wednesday, Sept. 20, the 263rd day of 2006. There are 102 days left in the year.

Quick Glimpse
AMERICAN WOMAN: Eleanor Meyer, a 2006 graduate of Clarke Central High School, will attend American University in Washington, D.C., as a member of the freshman class of 2010. Meyer has been awarded a Dean's Scholarship.

Famed jewelry designs on display
Noted Russian jewelry designer Ilya Abelsky, perhaps best known as the creator of the 800-piece collection that continues the tradition of Carl Faberge, jeweler to the Russian Imperial family, will be the subject of a three-day exhibition this weekend in Athens.

Stephens: There's a hole in my pocket
My son asked if I would take him shopping. He needed a couple of pairs of jeans and a few new shirts. Not having any brothers, I presumed it was just girls that were conscious about fashion. When my oldest son entered middle school a few years back, I found out differently.

Thai leader, in N.Y., gets boot by army
BANGKOK, Thailand - In the dead of night and without firing a shot, Thailand's military overthrew popularly elected Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Tuesday amid mounting criticism that he had undermined democracy.

Out-of-towners hold up talk on domestic benefits
Athens-Clarke County commissioners didn't talk about offering health insurance to the domestic partners of gay and lesbian county employees Tuesday, but that doesn't mean the proposal is dead.

Taylor, Perdue both vow crackdown on offenders
DULUTH - The battle to appear tough on crime continued in the race for governor on Tuesday, as Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor proposed making repeat child molesters eligible for the death penalty in Georgia.

Again, a judge votes no on poll ID
ATLANTA - A Fulton County judge on Tuesday permanently blocked the enforcement of a controversial state law requiring voters to present a state-issued photo ID.

Animals found in Augusta school
AUGUSTA - Students and faculty arrived at Augusta Christian Schools on Monday to find several farm animals inside a classroom, said Pam Tucker, the county's emergency services director.

'Crocodile Hunter' honored at service
BEERWAH, Australia - "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin was remembered Wednesday for his "great zest for life" at a public memorial service for the beloved conservationist and entertainer.

Perdue wants to strengthen Internet safety
ATLANTA - The state would spend nearly $1 million to strengthen the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's efforts to crack down on sexual predators who use the Internet under a proposal announced Monday by Gov. Sonny Perdue.

Zoning ordinances planned to cover look of buildings
WATKINSVILLE - The Watkinsville City Council plans to adopt a set of zoning ordinances by the end of the year that will give builders more control over what they can build, but gives the city more control over how those buildings will look.

Feds on case of fake IRS agent
WATKINSVILLE - The Oconee County Sheriff's Office have given federal authorities the case of a man who entered a Bogart woman's home and posed as a federal agent from the Internal Revenue Service

DOT sees no need for traffic light
WATKINSVILLE - Oconee County residents and sheriff's deputies have petitioned for a traffic signal at the accident-plagued intersection of Hog Mountain, Malcom Bridge and Rays Church roads, but state transportation planners still don't see a need at the crossroads.

Iran leader slams U.S., calls criticism unfair
UNITED NATIONS - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took aim at U.S. policies Tuesday in an address to world leaders, and accused Washington of unfairly attacking Tehran's nuclear program, which he insisted was peaceful.

Parents charged with kidnapping daughter
SALEM, N.H. - A Maine couple upset that their 19-year-old daughter was pregnant tied her up, loaded her in their car and began driving to New York to force her to get an abortion, police said.

NASA struggling to identify object
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA postponed the return of Atlantis for at least a day and examined the shuttle for damage that could prevent it from making the journey home after a mysterious object apparently fell off the ship in orbit Tuesday.

NASA declares emergency on space station
HOUSTON - An oxygen generator on the international space station overheated and spilled a toxic irritant Monday, forcing the three-man crew to don masks and gloves in the first emergency ever declared aboard the 8-year-old orbiting outpost.

Poverty group to meet Monday
People who need bus transportation to participate in Monday's meeting of Partners for a Prosperous Athens must ask for it by noon Thursday.

Judge rules more health coverage not required
ATLANTA - The Georgia Supreme Court on Monday sided with Athens-Clarke County, ruling that the local government does not have to pay for more expensive health insurance plans for a group of workers hired before consolidation.

French company buys Athens business
French biomedical company bioMérieux Inc. purchased Bacterial Barcodes Inc., a biotech firm that moved from Houston to Athens late last year.

Bombers kill at least 19 in Afghanistan
KAFIR BAND, Afghanistan - Three suicide bombers killed at least 19 people across Afghanistan on Monday, including four Canadian soldiers in an attack that tested NATO's claim of success in driving insurgents from this volatile southern region.

Federalism bill delayed again
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Bombers and gunmen killed at least 41 people and wounded dozens across Iraq on Monday, while parliament leaders again put off debate on legislation that some Iraqis fear could threaten the country's unity and bring even more violence.

Al-Qaida warns pope that Islam will prevail
CAIRO, Egypt - Al-Qaida in Iraq warned Pope Benedict XVI on Monday that its war against Christianity and the West will go on until Islam takes over the world, and Iran's supreme leader called for more protests over the pontiff's remarks on Islam.

Bush: No war against Islam
UNITED NATIONS - President Bush tried to quell anti-Americanism in the Middle East on Tuesday by assuring Muslims he is not waging war against Islam, regardless of what "propaganda and conspiracy theories" they hear.

Bush heads to U.N. to address host of issues
NEW YORK - President Bush on Monday linked his push for democratic reform across the world with first lady Laura Bush's call for governments to embrace literacy programs to improve lives.

Judge in Saddam's trial is replaced
BAGHDAD, Iraq - The chief judge in Saddam Hussein's genocide trial was replaced Tuesday amid complaints from Shiite and Kurdish officials that he was too easy on the deposed Iraqi leader.

Dogs will get new digs in Barrow
WINDER - Barrow County is poised to become the next area county to build an animal control shelter, a move that would replace an aging building officials say no longer can keep up with the demands of a growing county.

U.S. forces to remain steady
WASHINGTON - The U.S. military is likely to maintain and may even increase its force of more than 140,000 troops in Iraq through next spring, the top American commander in the region said Tuesday in one of the gloomiest assessments yet of when troops may come home.

Task force selected to tackle fall break
A University of Georgia faculty committee charged with addressing a proposal to move or eliminate the fall break before the annual Georgia-Florida football game in Jacksonville formed a task force Monday to handle the issue.

Georgia M.D., wife charged with fraud
JESUP - A Wayne County physician, along with a Florida physical therapist and their spouses, have been charged with health care fraud in a 106-count federal indictment resulting from an investigation into a phony billing scheme involving patients at a fitness gym owned by the doctor.

Council election planned
The city council of the tiny Oconee County town of Bishop has decided to fill its long-vacant fifth council seat after the town's attorney advised that it probably is the right thing to do.

Efforts made to help family who lost home in fire
A bank account at Athens First Bank and Trust has been established to help the family of Eddie and Emily Shumate who lost their home at 1011 Windridge Circle to a fire caused by a lightning strike Aug. 5.

Karwoski's book inspired by trip to Hawaii
Acclaimed children's author Gail Langer Karwoski literally stumbled through the back door when it came to devising the topic for her latest nonfiction book, the seventh in her growing collection.

Oconee might have to make room for new judge
The Western Judicial Circuit, which includes Athens-Clarke and Oconee counties, handled 123 percent more criminal cases last year than five years ago, leading judges and other officials to expect a fourth Superior Court judge in as soon as two years.

Plan to battle litter could use a cleaning up
Last month, Gov. Sonny Perdue introduced a $2.5 million campaign to clean up the state of Georgia. The anti-litter effort is mostly educational in nature, although it does include some enforcement and eradication initiatives.

UGA ignoring racial aspect of frat prank
The punishment meted out to the University of Georgia chapter of the Chi Phi fraternity this week in connection with a Sept. 6 incident on the Tate Student Center Plaza, in which seven pledges and a "new member educator" displayed photos in a pornographic magazine to unsuspecting passersby and then photographed their reactions, was both swift and strict.

Rising to the occasion
When Matt Fligg took over the Monroe Area football team earlier this year, he and his coaching staff scoured the halls in search of athletes. They discovered one in senior Antonio Smith, who possessed excellent skills but had never played high school football.

Titans overpower War Eagles
BOGART - Shea Wages clubbed three hits, scored a run and drove in another in No. 3 North Oconee's 10-0, 6-inning defeat of Putnam County on Monday.

Saints provide remedy
NEW ORLEANS - Clinical psychologist Mindy Kronenberg says she couldn't tell the difference between a running back and a quarterback if she had to.

Yankees' magic number now one
TORONTO - Bobby Abreu hit a tiebreaking homer in seventh inning, Johnny Damon made a great catch that saved three runs and New York beat Toronto 6-3 Tuesday night to lower to one the magic number for its ninth straight AL East title.

Johnson's shot fading
LOUDON, N.H. - Poor Jimmie Johnson, the nicest guy in NASCAR, who can never catch a break - not even on his 31st birthday and especially not when a championship is on the line.

Furyk, Woods are perfect pair
STRAFFAN, Ireland - Jim Furyk spent a few days on his own at the Ryder Cup site, an unexpected working holiday after his early exit from last week's HSBC World Match Play Championship.

New York clinches NL East
NEW YORK - The New York Mets ended nearly two decades of disappointment in their division and days of delay, clinching the NL East for the first time since 1988 with a 4-0 victory over the Florida Marlins on Monday night.

Chase drivers want own system
Now that the Chase for the Championship is in its third year, drivers are getting a feel for it. And they have suggestions to make it better.

'Freak' out season
PHILADELPHIA - Jevon Kearse's season is over because of a severe knee injury the star defensive end sustained in Philadelphia's overtime loss to the Giants on Sunday.

Polanco hopes to return to field
CHICAGO - Detroit Tigers second baseman Placido Polanco said Monday he hopes to play this weekend at Kansas City, contradicting his assessment a day earlier when he stated he was finished for the season because of a separated left shoulder.

Jones' homer lifts Atlanta
WASHINGTON - Finding a way in the next year and a half to keep Andruw Jones in a Braves uniform is the team's No. 1 objective, longtime teammate Chipper Jones suggested Monday afternoon.

Past champs encourage Harvick
DOVER, Del. - Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon know what it's like to be on a roll, so they understand what Kevin Harvick is going through.

Ward enjoys homer against former team
WASHINGTON - Don't get him wrong. Daryle Ward doesn't harbor any hatred for his former club, the Washington Nationals. But the Braves' most recent addition via trade didn't exactly mind beating his old teammates, either.

Fraternity placed on probation
UGA officials have placed Chi Phi fraternity on probation for two years, after fraternity leaders claimed responsibility for a Sept. 6 incident in which several pledges flashed pictures of nude women to passersby at the Tate Plaza.

UGA won't eliminate early admission option
The University of Georgia likely won't do away with a popular and growing early admissions program, even after one of the nation's top universities announced that decision last week.